Episode 1

Geoffrey Wheeler presents the first in a 3-part series about the history of American vaudeville.

Like Music Hall in Britain, vaudeville was a product of its time. At its peak, tens of thousands of performers travelled from town to town earning their living. Among those who learned their trade in vaudeville were future international stars such as Fred and Adele Astaire, Bob Hope, Jack Benny and jazz singer Ma Rainey.